Etiologies of heart failure in the elderly include those common to younger
patients as well as those etiologies unique to older patients.
Etiologies of Heart Failure Specific to the Older Patient:
- Pancardiac amyloidosis
- Dystrophic valve or valve ring calcification leading to aortic stenosis, mitral regurgitation (rarely mitral stenosis), or both.
- Disorders of impulse formation and conduction leading to brady- or tachyarrhythmias
Common Etiologies of Heart Failure in the Young and Old:
- Atherosclerotic heart disease
- Hypertension
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Valvular heart disease (e.g., rheumatic, rheumatoid, myxomatous degeneration)
- Dilated cardiomyopathy
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
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